bridewell
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈbraɪd.wɛl/
- Archaic
:
cárcel
- In 18th century London, many petty criminals found themselves locked up in the bridewell for minor offenses.
Examples
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Also pictured are the first almshouse, center, and at right, prisoners in the bridewell.
Academic text (2002) -
In response to the rising crime that accompanied an exploding population, a jail and a bridewell, a building housing vagrants and debtors, were also erected on the Commons.
Academic text (2002) -
The police have the poor, unfortunate lad in the bridewell.
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Some of them were former servants who had no place and were on the streets and they were sent by the bridewell to the new colonies.
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Later, when the British took New York City, the bridewell and jail were used to house American prisoners of war, including Ethan Allan.
Academic text (2002) -
The authorities decided to place the suspect in the bridewell until the trial began.
-
During the investigation, the police brought the gang members to the bridewell for questioning.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A building where people are kept as punishment or while waiting for trial
∞
1.0
A building where people are kept as punishment or while waiting for their trial
42
4.1
A building where police keep people who are waiting for trial or serving a sentence
5
9.9
A jail or prison where people go when they break the law
An old British word for a prison or jail
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word bridewell comes from the name of a famous London place by St Bride's well, meaning a 'spring'. Because that place became a house for poor people and a jail, the name bridewell came to mean any small jail or police lock-up, and it is often used as an old or historical word.